Envelope moistener and sealer



(N6 Model.)

- J. MA'RET. I ENVELOPE MOISTENER ANDSEALER. No. 426,728.

A 770/?NEYS PatentedvApI. 29, 1890.

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NITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES MARET, OF MOUNT VERNON, KENTUCKY.

ENVELOPE MOISTENER AND SEALER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,728, dated April 29, 1890.

Application filed February 21, 1890. $erial No. 341,250. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES MARET, of Mount Vernon, in the county of Rock Castle and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and Improved Envelope Moistener and Sealer, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming a part thereof, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of myiinproved envelope-lnoistener with parts in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

The object of my invention is to provide apparatus for moistening envelopes, for sealin g, closing the envelope, and pressing the flap down upon the body of the envelope, thereby causing it to be securely sealed.

My invention is also designed for moistening the corner of the envelope for receiving the stamp. Y

My invent-ion consists of a sponge holder and moistener, an envelope-guide and guideroller, and a pair of. rollers for closing the envelope after it is moistened and pressing the flap down to insure perfect sealing, all as will be hereinafter more fully described.

To the base A are attached standards B C, in which is journaled the tapering roller D. To the standard B is attached an arm a, to which is secured a water reservoir 1). A sponge-holder c is secured to the water-reservoir b and contains a thin flat sponge d. The reservoir 1) is provided with an aperture 6 in the corner adjoining the sponge-holder c, and is adapted to deliver water to the sponge contained by the holder, the amount of water passing to the sponge being governed by aplug or screwin the aperture 6. To the side of the base A is attached a standard fiwhich supports a guide g underneath the sponge-holder c.

In standards E F, attached to the base A, is journaled the tapering roller G, the bearings of the said roller being supported by spiral springs 71 placed in mortises in the standards E F. Upon a rod 1', projectingfrom the standard E, is journaled a roller H. The said roller H is provided with a tapering end, which facilitates the entrance of the envelope between the rollers G H.

The operation of my improved envelopemoistener is as follows: The flap of the envelope is inserted between the guide g and the sponge-holder c and drawn forward over the roller 1). The gummed surface of the envelope is thus brought in contact with the moist sponge (Z, which deposits sufficient water upon the gum to cause it to adhere as the envelope is moved forward between the rollers G H. The operation of carrying the envelope forward in this manner closes down the flap and presses itfirmly upon the body of the envelope. To moisten the envelope for receiving the stamp, the corner thereof upon whichthe stamp is usually placed is passed over the guide g, under the moistened sponge (Land over the roller D, and to the envelope thus moistened the stamp is applied in the usual way.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1 1. In an envelope-inoistener, the combination, with a roller, of a guide in front of the roller, a reservoir above the roller, and a sponge-holder below the reservoir and between the guide and roller, substantially as described.

2. In an envelope-inoistener, the combination of the reservoir 19, the sponge-holder c, the sponge (Z, the guide g, the roller D, and the rollers G H, substantially as specified.

3. In an envelope-moistener, the combination,with a tapering roller, of an inclined guide in front of the roller and a sponge-holder between the guide and roller, substantially as described. I

4:. In an envelope-moistener, the c'ombination, with a tapering roller and a spongeholder in front of the roller, of tapering rollers journaled one above the other in rear of the first-named roller, and with their small ends opposite the large end of the said firstnamed roller, substantially asdescribed.

JAMES MARET. Witnesses:

.T. W. NESBITT, R. A. WELsH. 

